In the run-up to the multi-cornered Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is once again facing scrutiny over its internal family dynamics, with rivals using it to launch political attacks and corner it.
Although the DMK and its leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi are his political opponents, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) leader Seeman is accusing the DMK of not allowing its two-time MP Kanimozhi to contest the Assembly elections despite her popularity. He alleges that this is being done to prevent her from emerging as a potential challenger to Chief Minister M. K. Stalin’s son, Udhayanidhi Stalin.
Praising Kanimozhi as a “talented woman,” Seeman used the issue to attack what he described as Stalin’s “dynastic control” over the party. “Despite being an efficient and capable woman leader, and the daughter of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, the DMK is not allotting a seat to her,” he was quoted as saying.
Kanimozhi Karunanidhi is the younger half-sister of Stalin. While both are children of the late M. Karunanidhi, they have different mothers. According to political buzz, the DMK’s Thoothukudi MP is keen to contest the Assembly elections and move into state-level governance, but such a move runs the possible risk of complicating Stalin’s efforts to consolidate the political future of his son, Udhayanidhi Stalin.
Currently, the Deputy Chief Minister, Udhaynidhi, is widely seen as the heir apparent.
This is not the first time allegations of Kanimozhi being sidelined in favour of Stalin’s direct line of succession have surfaced. Launched mostly by political opponents, these claims have never been officially confirmed either by the DMK or Kanimozhi, a senior party leader in the Lok Sabha.
Observers, however, read the personal attack against the DMK as an indication of the stiff competition in the upcoming multi-cornered contest. The DMK-led alliance is facing the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-led bloc, while political formations such as actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and Seeman’s NTK are contesting independently, challenging the dominance of traditional Dravidian parties across all 234 Assembly seats.
Observers believe Seeman’s remarks about Kanimozhi’s alleged marginalisation may also be aimed at creating internal pressure within the DMK, while also signalling a possible outreach to its constituents, especially Left parties, at a time when seat-sharing negotiations are underway.